Improvement in way-cocks



ySAMUEL P. MERVINE, Jr..

Way-Cocks.

Patented June', 1872.

777i @e Jed# UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL P. MERVINE, JR., OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN WAYCOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,160, dated June 18,1872.

SPEcuucATioN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL P. MERVINE, Jr., of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements p in Way-Cocks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon which form a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a way-cock,77 to be applied in the setting of gas, water, or spirit meters, so that a regulator can be attached at will7 as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same7 I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, which represents a longitudinal vertical section of the way-cock and its connection with the meter.

A represents the way-cock, the plug or key bein g removed. In this way-cock B is the pipe leading to the burners; C, the pipe leading to the inlet of the regulator and D, the pipe leading from the outlet of the regulator. In the lower side of the way-cock A is an opening, provided with a stuffing-box and cap, E, tapering from the inside, and above the same, in the way-cock, is a recess, a. The stuffingbox and cap confine the larger end of a tapering tube, Gr, in :the way-cock. Surrounding the smaller or lower end of this tube is a metal socket, H, made of block-tin and antimony, cast in a mold, ready for use without further finish, and provided with a conical opening, b, through the center, and a circumferential strengthening-rib, d. The under side of the socket E is tapering from the periphery toward the center, as shown at e, and has the end of the tapering or conical tube G attached at the small lower end of the central opening b. This socket, with the tube, is connected to the tubularmale screw I, which screws into the coupling J surrounding the socket, said male screw to be attached to the outlet of the meter. The upper end of the male-screw I is beveled from the outside toward the center, as shown at f, and the foot of this bevel, around the interior of the screw, is a recess, h. This forms a cup for a composition of beeswax and tallow, in order to prevent the socket from chafing while it is being screwed into place. Upon the pipes G and D are blind-caps K K, which are to be used when the meter is set for use. These blind-caps consist of a leather washer and metal plate fastened by a coupling, L. The blind-caps may readily be removed to atttach a regulator, the couplings L being also used for this purpose. When the blind-caps are on the cock must be set so that the gas or iluid will pass direct from the meter tothe consumer. By the addition of the stufling-box and cap E and recess a in the way-cock the tapering tube G may be lifted sufficiently high so as to admit of the socket H being lifted out of its resting place at f h without distorting the tube after it has been bent or twisted to suit7 as the circumstances may require.

It is obvious that when the metal socket H is brought directly over the screw I it will then be ready to connect with the coupling J which will compress it into the sharp-cornered seat f h, thus forming a gas, fluid, or air tight joint. The socket being circular it will linda true bearing on the face of the screw with this sort of connection.' The tapering tube G may be twisted in any direction, and when brought direct to its bearing it will t, as the circular form of the socket will lind a true bearing. The conical, form of the interior b of the socket will allow of the conical tube G being twisted or inclined, as the case may be, without rupturing the joint when the pipe is attached to the lower end of the socket, which forms the slenderest part of the tube. Thus it will be seen that there is no leverage on the joint by which it can be strained, and it will readily yield to any strain brought to bear, making it a safeguard against leakage.

In order to prevent corrosion of the two metals the inside of the coupling J may be filled with a composition of beeswax and tallow, through the openings M, which will form a solid seal. When it becomes necessary to break the joint the composition will prevent it from sticking together. The composition further acts as a double seal against leakage after the joint or connections areI made; also prevents the socket from chang in finding its bearing. A projection, m, around the central opening b at the top of the socket prevents it from inclining'too far. l

When attached to a gas-meter the gas, after being measured at the usual street pressure, (which varies from fifteen to thirty tenths of an inch or more,) may, by them use of this device, be consumed with a pressure of fivetenths of an inch. By this difference inthe pressure of the gas after it has been measured the gas is consumed in an expanded form, which will save the consumer from thirty to forty per cent. in the amount of gas. q

Having thus fully described my invention7 what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of the way-cock A with its recess a, stuffing-box and cap E, and conical tube G, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The spherical socket H, provided with conical passage b, strengthening-rib d, bevel e, and projection m, al1 substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. The tubular male screw I, provided with bevel f and recess h, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

4. The combination of the tube G, socket H, screw I, and coupling J, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

5. The combination of the way-cock Awith recess a., pipes B G D, blind-caps K, couplings L, stuing-box and cap E, tube Gr, socket H, screw I, and coupling J, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL l?. MERVINE, JR.

Witnesses:

GEO. J. Cook, E. P. GooK. 

